Inathi Nkosi Nokhepheyi: Founder of Imvoto, the Spark That Quenches Your Thirst
By Kamogelo Molokomme
A black child getting acquainted with the work force from a young age to defy—a reality that has somehow seeped into our everyday lives that imposes challenges that many of us are not ready to face. For this young entrepreneur, this was an opportunity that brought light into Imvoto. Inathi Nkosi Nokhepheyi is the founder of Imvoto, a sparkling water company established in 2021 that has managed to lay its foundation in local areas in the beautiful city of Cape Town. Imvoto’s momentous amalgamation of the Xhosa culture and its fusion of various flavours makes it an experience to partake in. It distinguishes itself by exclusively using local suppliers to maintain African heritage from its branding to the product.
Inathi is a 20-year-old, currently in his 1st year at the University of Cape Town studying towards a degree in social work and social development. Him and his family migrated to the Western Cape from the Eastern Cape in his early life. Inathi grew up in the township of Mbekweni in Paarl, raised by both his parents until their separation in his grade 6 year. Crossing paths with social services pivoted ideas associated with his career and a pursuit for helping others. “I wanted to be that someone to someone else’s life.” He shared crucial moments of himself in primary school selling sweets to fellow classmates. Witnessing the smile on their faces furthered the urge to contribute to society. Growing up as the first-born boy among three girls came with responsibilities that compromised his performance at school. As per the presumption of the male son having to go out and labour, his family did not support his desire to pursue tertiary education along with Imvoto. Inathi acquired his first job at a car wash and later worked at a salon. Key moments were marked by supportive teachers and the desire to make a living for himself and his family. Despite this support, Imvoto came to a complete stand still by the year’s end.
“Even though we are joining the western things, it doesn’t mean we have to forget our culture.”
The idea of Imvoto first brewed in 2021. COVID-19 was still at its peak, and for many it was a season of uncertainty filled with high rates of job loss. Inathi saw this as a window to build a name for himself with a fusion of his beliefs. Incorporating the Xhosa culture into his brand served as a reminder and an oppose to societal normative. “Even though we are joining the western things, it doesn’t mean we have to forget our culture,” he said. To him, culture is beyond the form of presenting oneself according to differences in language, but rather representing a people and their customs. This is evident in his manner of dress—for instance, in a beret, a brown woven wool jacket, and a buttoned-up navy cotton shirt.
Throughout this period Inathi experienced personal endeavours. Upon completing matric, there was a season of discovery that resulted in him moving back to Eastern Cape to live with his mom. Things were not picking up then, and he opted to come back to the Western Cape and, with hard work, secured two jobs. Inathi sought for a better future for himself, and being part of the work force paved the way for him to foster a business–minded mentality. The first hurdle to overcome when first arriving at UCT was the discrepancy between the linguistic environments he was exposed to in high school and university. At Desmond Impilo Tutu High School, everything was taught in isiXhosa, including the English language. As a result, Inathi encountered language and communication barriers. “Articulating myself was hard,” he said. Although being at his high school provided access to knowledge and research, it also had its limitations. The lack of social skills is an aspect that many can attest to, especially coming from schools that don’t have technological facilities.
“I believe I bring something different, but above all I believe in the support of local brands.”
The spark for Imvoto started picking up as he got into UCT. The space welcomed and invited an expansion of new ideas. Without knowing how things would pan out, he knew that Imvoto needed to take ground once again. Currently, he is supplying two Spaza shops in Mbekweni where he grew up. When asked about competition and the vastness of commercial water brands, he said, “I believe I bring something different, but above all I believe in the support of local brands.” As the founder and sole employee, he had no team to build his brand. Due to the lack of capital, there were instances when ties had to be broken for reasons such as not delivering products on time. Despite this, Inathi has envisioned the brand expanding to all nine provinces in South Africa as well as developing manufacturing factories to supply for companies such as Pick ‘n Pay, Checkers, and more. He aspires to be an inspiration to those who may possess a similar story to him. That one shouldn’t let the spaces you come from determine where you want to go. Inathi’s plans involve working on his networking skills, as asking for help feels like a strange task to perform. As of now, he is seeking for investors to share his dream and help the next generation see that dreams can turn into reality.